Ford Fiesta

The 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder engine can achieve up to 5.8l/100km and the ECOnetic version can get down to as low as 3.2L/100km.
But Ken Block and his Gymkhana 3 Fiesta isn’t too worried about fuel consumption, more about how much power the car can develop for his spectacular style of driving.
Powered by a 2.0-litre version of the Ford Fiesta engine, but with a Garrett turbocharger, this particular car develops an eye-popping 367 kW (493 HP) @ 8000 rpm and 743 Nm of torque @ 6000 rpm.
Transmission is courtesy of a Maktrak/Olsbergs MSE 6-speed sequential box via 4wd with front, centre and rear mechanical differentials.
It’s quick this Fiesta, how about 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of almost 250 km/h, but no mention of the fuel consumption.

But Some Light Bulbs Had to be Replaced

The object of our journey was a 1996 Hummer H1 pickup, 25,000 miles, “Desert Storm” tan, one owner—namely Tom’s father-in-law, who bought it new and deployed it as a tractor on his 160-acre farm. A dedicated Hoosier, the Hummer was built in Mishawaka and never departed the state.

“It might be a little rough,” Tom allowed as we passed Karl Kinser’s shop in Oolitic. “Lots of sinkholes in the local limestone, and my father-in-law—plus the Hummer—fell into a couple. More than a couple. He went completely vertical one time. Things got wet.” (Indeed. The brake-light bulbs were filled with liquid the color of Yoo-hoo.) In truth, the body was in great shape, which Tom proudly pointed out as he circled the behemoth, a boy in love.

One of life’s great joys is articulating the hideous flaws in another man’s freshly acquired vehicle. “Wow, you think the starter should be attached with more than one bolt?” I probed. “Was it your dad’s habit to fill the heater core with grain?” And, “I gotta tell you, I’ve never seen tires called ‘IROK Super Swampers.’ ”

Hummer Limos

German tuner Lorinser has recently set up shop in China—we’re told tuning is on the rise, just like everything else quantifiable in China—and the company celebrated by bringing a super-long S-class as well as this extra-burly G-wagen to the show. They didn’t bother to extend the side exhausts on the G, though. The tips now sit amidships.

Krystal had a whole row of black limos on its stand, from the livery-standard Lincoln Town Car to stretch versions of the Hummer H3 and Ford Expedition. What really caught my attention, however—and that of any non-deaf persons within several hundred yards—was the “entertainment” being supplied by the big screen and even bigger speakers. Yes, that’s John Cusack you see above, wielding a black stretch limo in the movie 2012. One of the more action-y, and loud, scenes was playing on repeat. All day. Did I mention it was loud? It was sooo loud. And no, we haven’t seen the movie either.